O’Connor won’t dress in Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, meaning the Senators will be forced into finding an emergency backup for Driedger. Kleinendorst says it’s possible O’Connor could be back for Sunday’s rookie tournament finale against Montreal.

ROUGH START

It’s a good thing that both O’Connor and Driedger, who stopped 19 of 20 shots, were both solid.

Don’t be fooled by the score. It shouldn’t have been close and the Maple Leafs shouldn’t have needed an overtime goal by Colin Smith to win.

The Senators forced the overtime when left winger Stephen Harper — the ex-Niagara and Hamilton junior who is here on an amateur tryout contract — tied the game late in the third period.

The Senators were overmatched most of the night, on their heels, hemmed into their own zone.

Trevor Moore opened the scoring, beating O’Connor high to the stick side.

WAITING GAME

For Ottawa native and Montreal Canadiens prospect Will Bitten, playing in London sure beats sitting in Limbo Land.

Bitten, who has demanded a trade away from the OHL’s Flint Firebirds — his hometown Ottawa 67’s remain at the top of potential destinations — has spent the past few weeks wondering and waiting for something to happen off the ice.

“I’ve been skating in Ottawa, training all summer, getting ice here and there, just trying to work really hard for this camp,” Bitten said before the Canadiens played the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the rookie tournament Friday afternoon.

Bitten, drafted 70th overall by Montreal in June, is tight-lipped about any trade talk, but is keeping his fingers crossed a deal can be completed before the beginning of the OHL regular season next week.

“It’s in everybody’s best interests to execute a trade now,” Serge Payer, Bitten’s agent, said in a telephone interview.

“There’s no denying that Ottawa would be a good fit.”

Jeff Brown, 67’s coach and general manager, has expressed an interest in Bitten, but has previously said the trade demands are too high. Brown, fresh from OHL general manager meetings in Toronto earlier this week, was in London Friday to watch his son, Logan Brown, play for the Senators rookies.

Sometimes, deadlines — in this case the pending opening of the OHL season — makes deals happen.

HOME AGAIN

Kleinendorst, the new/old Binghamton coach, was waxing poetic Friday. Earlier this week, he returned to Binghamton for the first time since leading the B-Sens to the 2012 Calder Cup — Luke Richardson replaced him — and was a tad overwhelmed by the moment.

“I’ve had a couple of surreal moments in my life,” he said. “The one was when we won the Calder Cup and to have accomplished that, it’s an unbelievable feeling. This one was unique — surreal can be unique. The last time I had been in Binghamton, I drove west out of town. This time, I drove east into town on the same road…it was just four years later.

“I’m genuinely excited.”

Speaking of roads, Kleinendorst also took a trip down memory lane, remembering many of the players who played such a big role en route to the AHL title. Current Senators Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith and Mark Borowiecki were on that squad. So, too, was teenage goaltender Robin Lehner, who went through his share of growing pains in the minors.

“Boy, was he a challenge, but a good challenge, and one that paid off for us,” said Kleinendorst. “Because we don’t win the Calder Cup without him.”

Regrets, Kleinendorst has a few, including leaving after 2012, en route to stops at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Iowa in the AHL and Ingolstadt in Germany.

“I feel very fortunate they’re giving me a second chance,” he said.

NOT TOO BIG IS NOT TOO BAD

Clearly, the Senators’ Nick Paul and Montreal’s Michael McCarron had the same summer training plan … and speech writer.

Paul dropped from 234 to 223 pounds. McCarron went from 237 to 226 pounds. “I’ve had the experience and I know what it is to play in the NHL now,” said McCarron, who played 20 games with Montreal. It’s consistency and conditioning.” On Thursday, Paul said, “getting games in the NHL, I see the difference, what I need to work at, where I was exposed.”

FRUITS OF LABOUR

I’m not saying it’s a long, boring drive from Ottawa to London, but the most exciting site en route is that way-too-happy looking Big Apple outside Colborne.

LEARN TRADE, STRIKE IT RICH

Kleindendorst on the best way prospects can show themselves against their peers: “If you’re a plumber, you should handle the plumbing. If you’re an electrician, turn the lights on and off. You’ve got to shine, whatever it is you do. I’m not calling in a plumber to do my electrical work.”

On Friday, anyway, the Senators electricians were late showing up for work.

This Week's Flyers

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